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Looking to replace an ageing 29er. Seen a good deal on a bike designed to be a mullet. Its an aggressive trail bike (140/160mm travel) is a mullet likely to climb and pedal significantly worse than a 29/29? Not much out there on this
Cheers
Dave
I do, but can't compare it to a full 29.....
I went with a mullet because I'm a relative shortarse and didn't want the rest wheel scraping my arse more it it already does.
No - I have recently (actually October last year, so not that recently) purchased a Saracen Ariel 30 in mullet flavour. My first thought was that I would convert it a full 29 with the included linkage plates.
I am more than happy with it as a mullet. Pink Bike recently did a test with the Fuel & the mullet was a smidge slower than the full 29er descending & quicker on the up..
I have boh and if it matters to you I suppose the 27.5 rear may have a tiny bit less grip and a tiny bit less speed. But at 5'8" the main thing I care about is the reduced frequency of tyre up the arse moments. It doesn't happen that often for me but when it does it is never at a good moment. If that is never a problem for you maybe stick to full 29 (or wait for a 32/29 mullet 😀 )
I'm not a tall rider about 5'8" as well. I don't like the tyre buzz either! Had heard a lot about mullets being poor climbers, but maybe it was conversions rather than 'ground-up designs!
5'6" so tyre buzz is an issue for me too.
I have a full 29er XC bike which is fine to ride, but never really gets into situations where I might want a smaller rear wheel to avoid arse/tyre interfaces.
Got a 29er RocketMAX converted to mullet. Now super slack (around 62 HA) and descends amazingly. Not such a good climber (OK to sit and winch though) but I suspect that's as much to do with the now silly slack seat tube as the smaller back end.
Also have a shorter travel (120/160) custom Marino designed as a mullet from the outset. Pretty much as quick as the Cotic on the downs until the rocks get real big, and feels much better climbing (again, I think this is down to a proper steep seat angle rather than the wheel size).
In your situation, I'd go with the mullet - if your 29er is getting on, the geometry on a newer bike is more than likely going to offset and reduction in speed due to wheel size.
Which one's the nicest colour?
is a mullet likely to climb and pedal significantly worse than a 29/29?
Why would it?
I'm always switching between both... there's an obvious difference on the descents (with positives and negatives for each), but much less on the climbs... if anything I prefer the mullet, but not enough to care.
Both ebikes are mullet, HT is full 29 and FS is now mullet - should be 29. BB was too high on the FS and making it a mullet has made it much better. Still climbs fine.
Other than that, I'd not know any difference when I'm riding them
I have a stumpy evo that’s came as a full 29er than I ran in that format for the 1st 18 months. A year ago I bought the mullet linkage and turned it into a mullet. What a difference. I much prefer it to the point where it feels like a much better bike. Im 5’9” but have short legs. I did occasionally catch my bum but not often enough to matter.
Descending is so much better. It turns in much more easily and then holds the line Ive chosen. It feels much more stable, I dont know if the bb drop increased, I assume not by much given its the factory link I used so should be geo correct.
Climbing. I dont find any real difference, Im sure technically its slower due to a poorer roll over but I dont notice. What I do notice is it’s better on a tech climb. This is because its easier to get a couple of pedal strokes in and accelerate into a tech feature as the back wheel spins up quicker.
In short, Im sold for mid/long travel bikes. My short travel bike 130/120 is still full 29.
My son has just bought a 2022 Canyon Spectral in mullet flavour. He's only ridden it once but he reckons it is a bit more "poppy" but doesn't climb as well as my Cube Stereo. He likes it and he's about 6'.
How are you all still hitting your bums? I thought the hanging your bum behind the saddle technique stopped around 10 years ago!
How are you all still hitting your bums? I thought the hanging your bum behind the saddle technique stopped around 10 years ago!
For me I think most often heavy landings where I've probably bottomed the suspension and collapsed a little more than I'd like and dunked my bum on the tyre. On my sized bikes a 29" tyre probably stands proud of the (dropped) saddle at full compression. So no, if I was an ace rider it probably wouldn't happen but I'm not and it does
Had my 2022 nukeproof mega 290(full 29) since new and converted to mullet last year using the proper rear end and its much better for me. Rides the steep stuff better, turns better, climbs feel better, dont buzz my arse, would not have another full 29er.
I converted my full 29 trail bike to mullet and while it didn't set my world on fire, I did notice the rear did slightly more exciting things in the air and the bike just felt a bit keener in the twisties. Drawback was it became a bit shittier while climbing - not due to pedalling but the angles all being a bit slacker.
Now I ride a bike designed to be a mullet and it's ace. Slightly shorter chain stays (but not too short) and a proper BB height. It just works.
Got both. Mullet feels nippier, better on fast acceleration, tight stuff etc. feels a bit more engaging. Better probably not but funner.
I ended up Going down the Mullet route for a cheaper option on a Trail HT last year and Honestly think it was the better choice.
My other MTB is a Rigid 29er that has served winter duties, but I do think the slightly shorter back end makes it feel like it turns easier at speed while the waggon wheel up front does it´s job rolling over stuff. The additional cushion of a wider 27.5" rear tyre does make a difference for hacking about rougher trails too, which maybe matters a smidge more for a HT (IMO).
I finally got it back out for a go on the local cheeky last week and and winching back up after a run down is just fine. Of all the factors affecting climbing, a marginally smaller diameter rear wheel is far less of a concern than the geometry/layout of the front end and where it puts your weight when sat spinning, modern frames with more upright seat angles do help too...
How are you all still hitting your bums? I thought the hanging your bum behind the saddle technique stopped around 10 years ago!
If you're riding something steep enough, you can still have your cog between the two axles and the rear tyre between your butt cheeks.
Actually, it's one of the unrecognised benefits of a mudhugger. Stationary plastic rather than rotating rubber
Actually, it's one of the unrecognised benefits of a mudhugger. Stationary plastic rather than rotating rubber
One of the reasons I leave mine on all year now
I never had issues with tyre buzz on a full 29er but I prefer the mullet setup I am on now.
Don't get sucked into the marketing rubbish about quicker here or slower there, the difference it makes to times is small. The feel is much more important, and for that I prefer the smaller rear wheel. Or at least I prefer the geometry of the bikes I've had with the 27.5 rear to the one I had with a 29er.
That said, I am anecdotally quicker on the ups on the mullet. This could be because I feel closer to the ground and more comfortable manoeuvring on techy climbs, or I could just be fitter.
I've got both and they're both good at different things. Not sure one is better than the other but it depends what type of riding you do.
The mullet is much more fun on built trails with features like drops, jumps, steep chutes and switchbacks and stuff.
The 29er will do it all but it wants to stand up and is much better for big days out on the pedals.
For wheels on the ground mincing I'd choose the 29er but I still like arsing around in bikeparks and doing uplift days.
For what it's worth the Airdrop Edit MX is very good for pedalling around and going up hills. Surprisingly good, considering I built it as a mini-DH bike.
To add to my previous post. Despite having a few mullets - my full 29 Ragley Big Al is an absolute blast and one of the best bikes I've owned if I'm honest. There is absolutely nothing that would make me want to stick a smaller wheel out back
My HT is mullet, changed from full 29er whereas my FS is full 29er.
Mullet allows for a bigger more voluminous rear tyre on the HT which absorbs a bit of the pain.
When it gets proper steep I get a bit close to the tyre. Even with my chin over the stem. Both have droppers that put the saddle near enough below tyre level.